Does Anyone Wash Their Car at Home Anymore?

[MIGrandma]

When I had my Sunfire I used to handwash it in the driveway here at home several times during the summer. But with my Blazer it is too tall so I never do. I always just run it through the automatic wash, for $5 - $7. DH used to wash vehicles at home all the time, but in the last few years since he has gotten busier he doesn't anymore either. So I just wondered if anyone washed their car at home anymore, or do you wash yours in town?

 

[Nolcrest]

When the weather is warmer, definately at home. Winte rmonths at the carwash.

 

[momrek06]

In SoCal, more people use the car wash. You can get some FAB deals on a full wash which includes a mini detail inside all for $10.00. AND living in SoCal unlike the Northeast (where we used to live) you do not have the elements effecting your CLEAN car, NO snow, sleet, ice, NO pollen, and Rarely does it ever rain ... so when I leave the car wash, my car looks fab for a long time!!!

 

[Jeanne B]

Just washed my Jeep Wrangler at home this weekend but more often than not I take my vehicles to the car wash (but I do the self service, not the automatic car wash).

 

[Icemann]

Hand wash and wax both my cars and the company van

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

I don't wash my car at home anymore. The time, supplies,, wrinkly skin, getting wet, etc is not worth the $8.

 

[Diznotyzed]

Here in environmentally conscious Portland, it's frowned on to wash your car where soapy rinse water could get into storm drains, so we go to self service car washes where the water goes into the sewer system.

 

[janets]

My husband washes our cars in the driveway. He does detailing part time and will never again take a vehicle to a car wash. He says the damage done to the paint and finish from the commercial equipment is awful.

That said, it can get expensive to do. He buys specific detailer level products and spends hours doing it. But he belongs to a few on line detailing forums and often gets pieces through different contests he enters.

We live in NJ so we're subject to weather, pollen, salt, you name it. He even goes out in the winter and washes the car.

 

[Sarah_Rose]

I LOVE washing my car outside in the summer but, like Portland, it's frowned upon to wash your car in your driveway here in Seattle. A lot of our storm drains go straight to the Pacific Ocean (or salmon spawning routes) and so you can't put chemicals (like soap and car wax) down the drains.

 

[Sparx]

I live in an apartment with a parking lot, so there really isn't a way to wash my car here. I always take it through an automatic wash. Lately I've had to wash it 2-3 times in the past month or two. The pollen around here has been awful! All that yellow dust makes my blue car look green.

 

[wdwmom2]

I wash my car every weekend at home, weather permitting. I never use a car wash EXCEPT in the winter. We take our water hoses inside so that they don't freeze. Then I go at a time when almost no one is there and I take my own bucket, soap and mitt and just use the bay for the water. I still chamois it afterwards.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

New car. We wash at home, especially after seeing the extensive, visible damage the automatic car wash did on our previous (only 3 years old) car.

No more automatic washes.

If we find a hand wash car wash, then we'd do that, but so far, no luck.

 

[Hillbeans]

The boys and I washed mine and DH's car this past Sunday - everything came out well except for the rims - it's hard to get them clean without the power wash.

 

[Feralpeg]

I always wash my car at home. In fact, this past weekend, I washed both my car and my daughter's to get rid of the lovebugs.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Here in environmentally conscious Portland, it's frowned on to wash your car where soapy rinse water could get into storm drains, so we go to self service car washes where the water goes into the sewer system.

I LOVE washing my car outside in the summer but, like Portland, it's frowned upon to wash your car in your driveway here in Seattle. A lot of our storm drains go straight to the Pacific Ocean (or salmon spawning routes) and so you can't put chemicals (like soap and car wax) down the drains.

Oh yeah... in my neighborhood, you'd definitely get the look and probably a talking to by a few people. Which I am OK with

 

[disfan07]

we would if we could but it is not allowed in our neighborhood.

It's one of the HOAs idiotic rules.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My dh might wash the car at home a couple of times in the summer however we have big trucks so he usually takes them to the car wash where you use the wand and wash it yourself.

 

[luvsJack]

Washed mine in the yard two days ago. After coming in dripping with sweat and aggravated because my vacuum would not get all the nooks and crannies; I will definitely be using a car wash next time.

 

[simba20]

Just washed our SUV at home this weekend getting ready for Disney (cleaned out the junk and vacuumed too). It was the first time we've washed it by hand since buying it in April of '08 (we've run it through a few automatic car washes). Looks totally different.

I love hand washing.

 

[castleview]

You guys are inspiring me to actually hand wash and vacuum the car at home. Truth be told, my car is always loaded up with soccer balls, karate gear, baseball gloves, and jackets in case the weather abruptly changes (I won't even bring up the garbage the kids "forget" to take out). Just emptying it can be a bear! But I will press on next time!